Adjustable wrench



E: M. PAULEY.

.ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1919.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

SHIN/r1611 UNITED STATES EDWARD M. PAULEY, 0F BIRDSVIEW, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

Application filed August 11, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD M. PAULEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Birdsview, in the county ofSkagit and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable renches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an adjustable wrench, and has for its objectthe provision of a wrench which may be readily adjusted, firmly held inthe adjusted position and simple and compact in construction, as well asbeing cheaper to manufacture, etc. To this end, the wrench of thepresent invention does away completely with all types of screwadjustment, which so readily becomes either bound because the nut andshaft become misalined, or when properly alined and adjusted in use workloose, requiring constant readjustment. Likewise, wrenches of othertypes have had no provision for cleaning or repairing the working partsthereof.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a cross section of the wrench. Fig. 2, is a plan view.Figs. 3 and 4, are cross sections on the line 33 of Fig. 1, Figs. 8,illustrating the teeth in engage ment and Fig. 4, illustrating the teethout of engagement. Fig. 5, is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the wrench has the usual adjustable engaging head 11,having integral therewith a reduced shaft 12, sliding in the slot 13, ofthe head 14, of the handle. This reduced portion 12, has a furtherreduced portion 15, integral therewith having on each side thereof aseries of ratchet teeth 16, the purpose of which will be hereinafterexplained. The central shaft 17, integral with the portion 15, slidesthrough collar 18, which constitutes a guide way for the in and outadjustment of the head 11, of the wrench. The reduced end of the shaft17, is provided with a cotter pin or other stop 19, which will come incon tact with the rear side of the collar 18, to prevent the head 11,from being removed from the handle of the wrench. The handle of thewrench of the present invention is in two parts, consisting of the head14, and the rip 20. Between these two parts is a coiled spring 21. Acollar 22, is secured Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Serial No. 316,586.

to the grip 20, in any convenient manner,

here shown to be by means of screws 23. This collar is counter-sunk 1nthe grip 20,

and extends past the end thereof. Into its open end fits the reducedportion 14' of the head 14. This collar has therein slots 24 and 25, inwhich work set screws 26. These screws screw into the reduced portion14, of the head 14, and thus the two portions of the handle of thewrench are yieldingly held together. On the interior of the grip 20, ofthe handle is secured the-two segments 27, the teeth of these segments27, meshing with the teeth 16. of the reduced portion 15. The teeth ofthe segments 27, and reduced portion 15, are in engagement when the grip20 is in its vertical position, in which position all parts of thewrench are alined, these positions being as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and5. The grip 20, carrying the segments 27, when turned in the directionpermitted by the slots 24 and 25, with their cooperating set screws 26,carries the segments 27, out of engagement with the teeth 16, and thispermits the head 11, to he moved away from the head 14, to

adjust the wrench. To permit the cleaning and repair of the inner worksof the wrench, a door 28, is provided in the face of the wrench. It isheld in place by the screw 29. which passes through the door and screwsinto the collar 18, on the interior of the wrench. To remove the door,it is simply necessary to remove the screw 29, and lift the door off ofthe grip of the wrench.

To operate and adjust this wrench, the

handle is turned in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 4, to theposition illustrated in that figure, wherein the teeth of the segments27, are disengaged from the teeth of the reduced portion 15. The head11, is then pulled out the required distance and adjusted on the objectto be gripped. The grip of the handle is then turned to its normalposition, shown in Figs. 1., 3 and 5, wherein the teeth of the segments27, positively engage with the teeth 16, of the re duccd portion 15,thus holding the head 11, positively in engagement with the objectgripped, and in such a manner that the head 11, cannot move away fromthe head 14. It will be appreciated it may occasionally happen that thetwo sets of teeth might be so engaged that they would not properly mesh.In that event, the spring 21, between the head. 1.4, and grip 20, willserve to take up enough of the play to compensate for this inisalinementof the teeth without disturbing the head 11, on the object to begripped.

I claim:

A wrench having an adjustable engaging head integral with a shank, saidshank having oppositely disposed racks thereon, a reduced portion beyondsaid racks, and a stop pin at the rear end of said shank, in combinationwith a handle surrounding the shank and in which said shank is movable,said handle being in two parts, namely, a head portion cooperating withsaid engaging head and having a reduced rear end, and a hollow grip forthe hand of the user; a coiled spring between said head portion and saidgrip; a slotted collar secured to the forward end of the grip andencircling the same said collar also encircling the reduced end of thehead portion and the spring therebetween; guide pins in the reduced rearend 01" the head portion projecting through the slots in said collar topermit a turning movement of said grip; toothed segments on the interiorof said hollow grip engaging the racks upon said shank when in oneposition to lock the same from movement, and disengaging these rackportions when the grip is turned to free the shank for adjustment; and acollar on the interior of said hollow grip in which is guided thereduced portion of said shank, and with which the stop pin engages tolimit the adjustment of the shank. V

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWVARD M. PAULE Y.

